Crime
Shooting at Maine Mall Leaves One Injured, Search for Juvenile Suspect Ongoing
South Portland, Maine — Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating a shooting incident that occurred at the Maine Mall in South Portland, leaving one person injured and prompting an extensive search for the suspected juvenile shooter.
According to the South Portland Police Department (SPPD), officers responded to reports of gunfire inside the mall during the afternoon hours.
Authorities have described the incident as “isolated,” with no indication of an ongoing threat to the wider public.
Preliminary information from tactical command indicates that the shooting took place inside a mall restroom, where the victim was shot at least three times.
Witnesses reported hearing at least four gunshots.
The victim was transported to Maine Medical Center, though their condition remains unknown at this time.
A massive law enforcement response is underway, involving city, state, and county agencies, along with the FBI’s SWAT teams and K-9 units. Officers are actively searching both inside the mall and the surrounding perimeter for the suspect.
The FBI’s tactical teams are preparing to conduct a comprehensive sweep of the mall’s exterior as part of the ongoing operation.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the Maine Mall area while the investigation and search continue.
No additional injuries have been reported.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the South Portland Police Department immediately.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.